Pit Road Week 26

Richmond International Raceway September 7th 2013

Let me take a deep breath, that has to be just about everyone's reaction after the race at Richmond and the news in the following days.  Saturday night it was Ryan Truex getting in the Chase after a late caution in which his teammate Clint Bowyer spun out with now one around. A few days passed and then on Monday Nascar fans learned of a conspiracy, that Bowyer was told to spin out to help bring a caution that would eventually lead to Truex making the Chase.

Nascar looked into this further and Monday Evening came down on MWR. This action left Truex out of the Chase and gave Ryan Newman his spot in the Chase, that most believed he deserved after taking the lead late at RIR (right before the "spin out" caution.

In other news, Nascar now enters its 10 race Chase, if you haven't forgotten about that. Well this addition of Pit Road will reset the Power Rankings to who is hot coming in and looks to have title contention. From here on most of the focus in previews and reviews will be about drivers in the Chase (with a few side notes from other story lines).  Take a look here at the full race results. *On a side note, Ryan Newman Signed on to RCR for 2014 and will drive the #31, but this is old news by now as well*

Pit Road Week 26 Power Rankings

1. Jimmie Johnson- I'm sorry, but I just don't think the #48 team can stay in this bad luck slump during the Chase. I will believe it when I see it, until then I have him starting in the top spot. He has been there, done that, and after only winning 1 title in the past 3 years he wants it.
2. Kyle Busch- Having said that about JJ, I do think others have the chance to pounce. Kyle has been notorious for falling off during the late season, but last year he fell off and missed the Chase and then turned it around and was one of the best drivers during the Chase. He has been fast all year so if he stays hot JJ will be looking over his shoulder, and then coughing up dust.
3. Joey Logano- Yeah, JoLo is everyone's dark horse, but he happens to be the driver I was high on all year. After he finally got a win that I was eagerly predicting, he has stayed hot while entering the Chase. This is his first Chase rodeo, but his teammate and last years Champ, BK, will be there to help along the way.
4. Matt Kenseth- I am not so sure about this spot for Kenseth. At times he has looked like the best bet to take down JJ, and other times he cant stay out of trouble or bad luck. He has been on a roller coaster and that doesn't cut it in the Chase.
5. Kevin Harvick- Well for the first half of the season he was Mr Consistency, he has been a little more rock as of late but he has still been solid. He already has a ride at Stuart-Haas next year but I think he will give it his all for RCR on his way out the door.
6. Kurt Busch- This man has been fast all year, I mean fast. Kurt though, has yet to win a race while being that fast. Something has got to give, and I think he will get a win in the Chase, but I do not think he will stay consistent enough in all the other categories to contend.
7. Clint Bowyer- This might be low for Bowyer, but not too many people will complain after the news that came out. Bowyer has been up front in just about every race, but when push comes to shove he hasn't finished one out for a win. Last year he was a threat to JJ and BK but fell just short (2nd). This year he will look to build on that, but he needs to find a way to win a few.
8. Kasey Kahne- Another guy who could be too low, Kahne has been fast on many occasions this season but he has also had the same story as Kenseth, roller coaster.  If he can stay consistent he does have a chance to be a darkhorse contender.
9. Carl Edwards- It has been a nice season for Carl, but I just don't know if he has enough to win it. He does have one thing on his side, he is Nascar's most recent winner (RIR). Unfortunately for him his story of winning has got lost in the Newman/MWR fiasco.
10. Ryan Newman- The lucky dog when it comes to the Chase (not really because he deserved the win and to get in, and worked his butt off to get up front) Newman is on his swan song with SHR. Newman did have one of the best Mondays in the history of Mondays, he got into the Chase without driving and also signed on to RCR for 2014 to drive the #31 Cat car.
11. Dale Earnhardt Jr- Sorry Jr Nation, I just don't like his chances. It isn't that Jr has been bad this year, its just that he hasn't been a front running contender much, so it is tough to see him being a contender now. He did have a nice run last year before his concussion so he cant be ruled out, he just isn't an odds on favorite.
12. Greg Biffle- Well Biff, I think you are getting the low spot in a lot of individuals rankings for the Chase. I have no problem with you but I think a guy like Jeff Gordon or Brad Keselowski in your spot would not only have a better shot at the tittle but be more entertaining. If you say you realized Biffle was racing this year (other then his win) you are either a Biffle fan or lying. But in all seriousness Biffle has just been background noise this year, he has been good but not great. He could hang around the middle of the standings but I don't see him as a contender.

Well Nascar fans, its time to start the Chase. With all the resent news and drama the Chase should shape up to be a good one this year. The big question is, will there be a 4th Champion in as many years, or will JJ get another (as BK and Smoke have no chance)? Check back in for my first Chase Preview later this week.